וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֣ בְכׇל־הַטּ֗וֹב אֲשֶׁ֧ר נָֽתַן־לְךָ֛ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ וּלְבֵיתֶ֑ךָ אַתָּה֙ וְהַלֵּוִ֔י וְהַגֵּ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּקִרְבֶּֽךָ׃

And you shall enjoy and rejoice in, together with the [family of the] Levite and the stranger in your midst, all the bounty that your God יהוה has bestowed upon you and your household.

These words which I read out of the Torah for the first time at my bar mitzvah 29 years ago have always deeply resonated with me. Our ancestors were instructed to bring their “first fruits” to the Temple and enjoy them together with their whole extended community. 

I read into these words two lessons that continue to be dominant in my work and my worldview. 

The first is that it is actually a mitzvah to find the blessing and the joy, even when and perhaps especially when life is painful and difficult. We all know about breaking a glass at a wedding, and so too is the inverse.

Second: bounty and the joy associated with it is best enjoyed in community, and if we really want to do it right, we need to let others benefit from our success, so that they too can experience joy. 

As we enter this holiday season, I am fully aware that we gather with broken hearts and with cups that feel half empty. I invite you to join us in squinting our eyes to see all the tov - the goodness in our lives, the strength and diversity of our community and the beauty in this world.

And speaking of sources of joy in my life, for those of you who have been asking for updates on my Hartman rabbinical training, here is a link to the website that contains information about the program and information for anyone who may be interested in it for themselves.  https://www.hartman.org.il/program/rabbanut-north-america/

May we be granted a Shabbat of tranquility.